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Kaiyukan is considered one of Japan's most spectacular aquarium.It shows the aquatic animals of the Pacific Rim at their most vibrant and dynamic state by recreating their natural habitat.There are over 15 large tanks, each tanks representing different regions of the Pacific Rim like Japan's Forest, Antartica, Pacific Ocean,Tasman Sea, Aleutian Islands and Coast of Chile.The tour is takes about 2 and a half hour and you can encounter almost 30,000 creatures.

Even their tickets are souvenir worthy

The principle of Kaiyukan is based on Gaia hypothesis advocated by British scientist James Lovelock which proposes that all organisms and their inorganic surroundings on Earth are closely integrated to form a single and self regulating complex system.

Giant Chinese Salamander

Super cute Small Asian Clawed Otter

I'm a huge fan of aquariums though I'm not a huge fan of water in general. I have been to Sentosa but Kaiyukan has to be one of the best decisions I have made in my Japan trip.We went there on a weekday to avoid the crowd but there were still a lot of people who went there. It was a bit far from the train station and thank God we have our umbrellas with us, if not we were toasted before we reach Kaiyukan. It's the only main attraction in the area so people really go there, if lost, follow the crowd. Also there's a huge Ferris Wheel beside Kaiyukan so it's impossible to miss that one out.

Capybara

The place is magical. It amazes me how they constructed the place and how well they materialized the Gaia hypothesis.The place makes you want to take care of the animals so that the future generations can still see and appreciate the beauty and diversity of mother earth.

For some weird reason,the Penguin is facing the wall

My personal favorite would be the Sea Otters,Capybara, Penguins,Dolphins, Japanese Anchovies and the Jelly Fish.The seals were also cute and fluffy but they smell fishy.

Whitesided Pacific Dolphin

Audio and visual guides are available in four different languages, Japanese,English,Chinese and Korean.

Japanese Anchovy were super shiny like they have Vaseline all over

Drunk Seahorse

Be sure to receive a hand stamp on your way out to re-enter the aquarium on the same day. So you can eat your snacks or lunch at Tempozan Marketplace and return to the aquarium afterwards.

Tempozan Marketplace (Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho) is a commercial complex adjacent to Kaiyukan. There are almost 80 retail and dining establishments including souvenir shops and fashion boutique available inside the Marketplace.

There's even an indoor petting zoo inside!I regret not entering the place.The animals were super cute and cuddly looking.

You need to go through the Marketplace to go to the Ferris Wheel.

Ramen I got from the Tempozan Marketplace

3 different kinds of Takoyaki

There are different packages that go along with the entrance of Kaiyukan like Kaiyukan + Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel (3,000JPY) ,Kaiyukan + Cruise Ship Santa Maria (3,200 JPY) and Kaiyukan + Fast Shuttle Ferry Captain Line ( Price depends on ticket type). The packages let you save as much as 700JPY.

I chose the Kaiyukan + Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel though I have slight acrophobia just because I love the view from above.

Osaka Aquarium from above

Attendants will ask you if you prefer the glass floor or not and I chose NOT to push my limitations by riding the glass floor because most probably I'll end up shaking like what happened to me when I decided to ride a cable car to Sentosa and the attendant gave us the one with a glass floor, my dad asked me if I was ok and I told him I am ok but my whole body was shaking.

The view was breathtaking and it was worth it.Seeing the panoramic view of Osaka let you see the place in a different light. I was a bit shaking while taking photos but I was really happy that I decided to ride.

One of the most iconic places in Osaka is the Osaka Castle.Osaka Castle or Osakajo was constructed on the former site of Ishiyama Honganji Temple in 1583.Toyotomi Hideyoshi wanted the castle to become the center of the new unified Japan under his rule.

However, in 1615,years Hideyoshi's death, Tokugawa troops attacked and destroyed the casle and terminated Toyotomi's lineage. The castle was rebuilt by Tokugawa Hidetada in 1620s but the main castle was struck by lighting in 1665 as a result, Osaka Castle was burnt down.

Osaka Castle Park opened in 1931 and it covers an area of 106.7 hectares. It is now entirely modern on the inside and it houses an informative museum about Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the castle's history.

This miniatures so freaking long wish I could have take a proper video

I'm a sucker for miniatures

A minimal fee of 600 yen is collected before entering the castle and I must say that it's worth it. There were 8 floors and taking photos of the original relics donated by some prominent people were not allowed. DO NOT TRY. There are guards there looking every now and then to make sure photos were not taken. Osaka Castle is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm( entrance until 4:30pm) but better check out their official website just to be sure.

I really want to go back to Osaka Castle during Spring because there's a special tour around the moat where sakura flowers would bloom.

This scene would be so beautiful during spring

Wanna be a warrior? Yes you can be one for photo ops only.

Souvenirs you can get from Osaka Castle

The castle is a bit far from the train station so you might get lost along the way but tourists usually go there so find a foreigner and follow him/her. >,<

Osaka Castle

Address:1-1 Osakajo,Chuo Ward, Osaka

Hours : 9:00 - 17:00

Closed : December 28 - January 1

Fees : 600 JPY

Directions

From Tokyo:
[Train] Tokyo Station by JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line to Shin Osaka Station ( 2 hours 30 min) then Shin Osaka Station to Osaka-jo Koen Station via JR Osaka Station (13min).

From Osaka:
[Train] Tennoji to Osaka-jo-koen Station by JR Loop Line (18 min)jnto.go.jp